Thursday, December 15, 2005

Chicago people!

What is up with your kitchens?
I have looked at a lot of apartments for rent and sublease on the internets, and seriously, I have seen some lousy, lousy kitchens. Like, a shelf, a minifridge and a tiny gas stove lousy. Tell me the places I've found have been anomalies, that Chicago does not have a kitchen-quality deficit problem, please!
Happy weekend.

7 Comments:

My kitchen now is ok...it's big enough, but doesn't have a lot of counter space, though it has lots of cabinet space and regular sized appliances. Now my previous kitchen was the bomb, but I was also pay $300 more for that joint. I'm not sure where you're looking or what your price range is, but by CHicago standards, the prices in Humboldt Park and Logan Square are pretty reasonable ($650-$800 for a decent sized one bedroom, as are Rogers Park and Edgewater. I'd suggest contacting my landlord cuz the apts. are great, but he's a total ass slumlord.

Carlos' kitchen is the nicest I've ever seen. Hell I could live in that puppy. The one in the turn of the century 2 flat I bought is... well... old school and need of updating. Gpt fancy stainless fridge now which look sway out of place. Gpts an old as dirt but kicks all forms of ass over a modern one gass stove. But yea... it's lacking. If I didn't own I'd live in Carlos' kitchen. -Rob

the size of your kitchen is all about the type of building you're in: converted gut rehabs have the best kitches, by and large. my apartment has wraparound counter space, deep porcelain sinks, spacious under-counter pullout drawers and shelving and plenty of storage for glassware, vases, whatnot!

vintage buildings (the typical chicago 3-flat usually found on the westside, bucktown, lincoln park or the older parts of the city) are well-sized but may not have modern amenities ; it all depends if there have been renovations. 5-story box apartment buildings (like those on the northside or in lakeview) have crappy kitchens - tiny, retro and totally unsuited for doing anything other than reheating pizza.

your standard loft layout apartment should have what i have - if it was built within the past five years; if it's just a bare loft that could be converted to live space, you're SOL. you'll have to build everything out to suit.

I concur with everything ding has said. If you end up in an older 2-3 flat on the Northside, you may have to forego having a decent kitchen. My current kitchen is pretty nice size wise, but the appliances are pretty old.

In Chicago, I became the queen of finding beautiful, affordable apartments. I lived alone in a 2-bedroom apartment in Wicker Park (I used the second bedroom as an office). The place was BEAUTIFUL!!! It was a family-owned 3-flat; the front garden was AMAZING.

I'll give you BEAUCOUP advice on Chicago housing when I see you in January!